Greenaway short list 2021

Small in the City - WINNER

Arlo: The Lion who Couldn't Sleep
Hike
How the Stars Came to Be
I Go Quiet
It's a No Money Day
Starbird
The Bird Within Me
The Child of Dreams
The Fate of Fausto
The Misadventures of Frederick

Review

This wonderfully illustrated story, told through the eyes and thoughts of a child, takes you on a journey through a city. It explores how it feels to be small in a cold, busy environment where people, rushing about in their own world don’t see you. Would you walk down a dark alley or hide up a tree? Would you fall asleep on a park bench or stand outside the church listening to the choir? When you feel overwhelmed by the hectic hustle and bustle, would you go home where it is safe and quiet?

Opinion

This is a lovely book with gorgeous snowy, urban illustrations that really emphasize how small and lost you can feel when no one sees you.

A great story to share with Year 2 and Year 3!

Reviewed by

Jade Kirton Mobile Library Assistant

I love reading ALL kinds of books and have a passion for picture books and fantasy adventure. Nothing makes me happier than a book that I just cannot put down.

Rating

5 / 5

Review

A lovely wordless picture book that tells the story of a parent and child who go on a hiking adventure set in the USA. The child in this story loves exploring and their bedroom is full of ‘wild’ adventure equipment. After waking up, they leave the city and set off to the mountains to explore. With map in hand, they have fun discovering the beautiful wildlife that lives in the mountain. Feathers are collected, insects inspected with a magnifying glass and animal trails recorded in a sketch book. They watch the fish swimming in the pool and the eagles flying above. Walking sticks in hand they cross rivers, pass waterfalls and climb steep rocks to reach the summit. Once there, like their relatives before them, they plant a tree and take a picture to record the event. They make their way home, feeling contented and happy with what they have achieved.

Opinion

The illustrations in the books are beautiful and being a wordless picture book there is plenty to discover and discuss with children. There are opportunities to explore relationships and emotions, as well as the wonderful scenery and wildlife in the mountains of the USA.

I think this would be lovely book to share with a Year 2/3 class.

Reviewed by

Jade Kirton, Mobile Library Assistant

I love reading ALL kinds of books and have a passion for picture books and fantasy adventure. Nothing makes me happier than a book that I just cannot put down.

Rating

4 / 5

Review

This is a creation story that explains how the stars were created. A Fisherman’s daughter loves playing in the light and warmth of the sun. However, when the moon disappears for a few nights each month, she worries her father will be unable to find his way home. The sun finds her crying and offers her a way of lighting the night sky.

Opinion

This lovely picture book has beautiful, distinctive illustrations with a simple but striking, colour palette. I was aware that the text is in grey or blue against black, which makes it quite difficult to read. I feel its decorative illustrations may be too sophisticated to appeal to younger children. It is probably best suited to KS2 children and would be a welcome addition to any traditional tales collection.

Reviewed by

Rachel Kay – Library Assistant

I like reading a wide range of books but am partial to a good picture book.

Rating

3 / 5

Review

A girl considers how out of place she feels in the world around her, and the value of her quiet nature. This is the exquisite story of an introverted girl, struggling to find her place in a noisy world. Atmospheric artwork and a strong message about the value of every individual (not just the loudest).

Opinion

I liked this book because the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. The story is so sensitively done; very hopeful and reassuring. Works for people of any age.

I would recommend this book to primary school children of all ages

Rating

5 / 5

Review

With a matter-of-fact narrative and illustrations to match this pertinent issue is dealt with effectively & with some positivity. Mum deals with this carefully and shows her daughter how there are so many things that you can do that don’t need money BUT food does. Enter the foodbank. Discuss how lucky we are and how it's important to show compassion and love to others who may not be as fortunate as us.

Opinion

I liked this book because it is stunning while also simple, so incredibly powerful.

A moving insight into the sad rise and necessity of foodbanks from the perspective of society's most vulnerable, and an essential book to help develop empathy in younger readers.

I would recommend this to Foundation and KS1.

Reviewed by

Tracy Willcocks – Mobile Library Assistant

Rating

4 / 5

Review

Starbird has a melodious, sweet-throated song that lulls his hearers into a deep, untroubled sleep. The Moon King captures him so that his daughter can fall asleep to his beautiful singing every night. However, in captivity Starbird begins to pine and, moved by his sadness, the princess sets him free. This enrages the king who recaptures him after a long pursuit across the world but, luckily, the princess begs for his freedom and eventually the king sees the error of his ways and releases him.

Opinion

The moral is probably meant to be captivity will destroy you (fair enough) but in straining to be lyrical and timeless this message is somewhat lost. When the Starbird is released he doesn’t appear very happy in any environment in which he finds himself – deserts, mountains, the sea. Instead he’s searching for ‘a faraway land where the birds sing together’. A rather more apposite reading would be fulfilment is a fantasy and some people/birds are never happy. I would prefer it if instead of releasing Starbird to go seeking avian happiness the king replaced the bird with an identical but more cheerful one. The illustrations are pretty good although the camel in the desert section is a very peculiar-looking creature.

Reviewed by

Bruce Wathen

Rating

3 / 5

Review

Berta is twelve years old, growing up on a farm in northern Sweden. She loves to draw and paint, but with her mother sick, she has to help on the farm. Her dream of becoming an artist is slipping away.

Opinion

With so few words, the illustrations aid and drive the story. Berta’s wish for a different life flies off the page with each picture. She is in a world that tells her to be and do one thing when she is craving to do and be another. Her mother appreciates her art in a way no others do which makes it so precious.

I would recommend this to KS2 and 3.

Reviewed by

Alice, Library Assistant. Fantasy and dystopian reader.

Rating

4 / 5

Review

The story of a little girl and her Mother, who live an idyllic life in the countryside, until the girl starts to wonder where she came from and why she has no father. She sets off on a journey to find out. With the help of the animals she meets she is eventually taken to a big building full of children waiting to be found. She realizes that where she came from isn’t so important after all, because she has a mother who loves her as she is.

Opinion

This is a sweet story about adoption and families, which would be lovely to read aloud. Every page is filled with stylish illustrations which are soft and simple with a focus on the natural world. The flowery, lyrical prose may be difficult for younger readers to follow, but the simple story line will hold interest.

I would recommend this for children aged 6-8, and as a lovely discussion starter on the subject of families.

Reviewed by

Sue Collins, Library Assistant, Babcock School Library Service.

Rating

4 / 5

Review

This is a fable about wanting too much, wanting more than you need, basically greed. It comes with a price because Fausto does not understand.

Opinion

I liked this book because as always Jeffers combine his own style of art with powerful prose, but will it appeal to children? It is visually stunning and original, but will it appeal to children?

I would recommend this to KS2 but even then it would need a lot of adult input.

Reviewed by

Tracy Willcocks – Mobile Library Assistant

Rating

4 / 5

Review

A funny, joyful story about the friendship between anxious Frederick and the free spirited Emily who encourages Frederick to join her in the delights of her outdoor adventures.

The dialogue is in the form of funny letters written between Emily and Frederick and delivered by paper aeroplane.

Opinion

Wonderfully written with beautiful illustrations. In his mansion, Frederick is bored. Free spirited Emily invites him out to play but Frederick is anxious and has to refuse- what if he hurts himself? Emily, however, doesn’t give up!

Reviewed by

Mandy Davison - Team Lead, School Library Service.

Rating

4 / 5